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Reflection On The Causes Of The Commercial Prosperity Of The Of The United States
The Americans destined by Nature to be a great maritime people … Extent of their coasts … Depth of their ports … Size of their rivers … The commercial superiority of the Anglo…Americans less attributable； however； to physical circumstances than to moral and intellectual causes … Reason of this opinion …Future destiny of the Anglo…Americans as a commercial nation … The dissolution of the Union would not check the maritime vigor of the States … Reason of this … Anglo…Americans will naturally supply the wants of the inhabitants of South America … They will become； like the English； the factors of a great portion of the world。
The coast of the United States； from the Bay of Fundy to the Sabine River in the Gulf of Mexico； is more than two thousand miles in extent。 These shores form an unbroken line； and they are all subject to the same government。 No nation in the world possesses vaster； deeper； or more secure ports for shipping than the Americans。
The inhabitants of the United States constitute a great civilized people； which fortune has placed in the midst of an uncultivated country at a distance of three thousand miles from the central point of civilization。 America consequently stands in daily need of European trade。 The Americans will； no doubt； ultimately succeed in producing or manufacturing at home most of the articles which they require； but the two continents can never be independent of each other； so numerous are the natural ties which exist between their wants； their ideas； their habits； and their manners。
The Union produces peculiar commodities which are now become necessary to us； but which cannot be cultivated； or can only be raised at an enormous expense； upon the soil of Europe。 The Americans only consume a small portion of this produce； and they are willing to sell us the rest。 Europe is therefore the market of America； as America is the market of Europe； and maritime commerce is no less necessary to enable the inhabitants of the United States to transport their raw materials to the ports of Europe； than it is to enable us to supply them with our manufactured produce。 The United States were therefore necessarily reduced to the alternative of increasing the business of other maritime nations to a great extent； if they had themselves declined to enter into commerce； as the Spaniards of Mexico have hitherto done； or； in the second place； of becoming one of the first trading powers of the globe。
The Anglo…Americans have always displayed a very decided taste for the sea。 The Declaration of Independence broke the commercial restrictions which united them to England； and gave a fresh and powerful stimulus to their maritime genius。 Ever since that time； the shipping of the Union has increased in almost the same rapid proportion as the number of its inhabitants。 The Americans themselves now transport to their own shores nine…tenths of the European produce which they consume。 *g And they also bring three… quarters of the exports of the New World to the European consumer。 *h The ships of the United States fill the docks of Havre and of Liverpool； whilst the number of English and French vessels which are to be seen at New York is comparatively small。 *i
＇Footnote g： The total value of goods imported during the year which ended on September 30； 1832； was 101；129；266。 The value of the cargoes of foreign vessels did not amount to 10；731；039； or about one…tenth of the entire sum。＇
＇Footnote h： The value of goods exported during the same year amounted to 87；176；943； the value of goods exported by foreign vessels amounted to 21；036；183； or about one quarter of the whole sum。 （Williams's 〃Register；〃 1833； p。 398。）＇
＇Footnote i： The tonnage of the vessels which entered all the ports of the Union in the years 1829； 1830； and 1831； amounted to 3；307；719 tons； of which 544；571 tons were foreign vessels； they stood； therefore； to the American vessels in a ratio of about 16 to 100。 （〃National Calendar；〃 1833； p。 304。） The tonnage of the English vessels which entered the ports of London； Liverpool； and Hull； in the years 1820； 1826； and 1831； amounted to 443；800 tons。 The foreign vessels which entered the same ports during the same years amounted to 159；431 tons。 The ratio between them was； therefore； about 36 to 100。 （〃Companion to the Almanac；〃 1834； p。 169。） In the year 1832 the ratio between the foreign and British ships which entered the ports of Great Britain was 29 to 100。 ＇These statements relate to a condition of affairs which has ceased to exist； the Civil War and the heavy taxation of the United States entirely altered the trade and navigation of the country。＇＇
Thus； not only does the American merchant face the competition of his own countrymen； but he even supports that of foreign nations in their own ports with success。 This is readily explained by the fact that the vessels of the United States can cross the seas at a cheaper rate than any other vessels in the world。 As long as the mercantile shipping of the United States preserves this superiority； it will not only retain what it has acquired； but it will constantly increase in prosperity。
Chapter XVIII： Future Condition Of Three Races … Part X
It is difficult to say for what reason the Americans can trade at a lower rate than other nations； and one is at first led to attribute this circumstance to the physical or natural advantages which are within their reach； but this supposition is erroneous。 The American vessels cost almost as much to build as our own； *j they are not better built； and they generally last for a shorter time。 The pay of the American sailor is more considerable than the pay on board European ships； which is proved by the great number of Europeans who are to be met with in the merchant vessels of the United States。 But I am of opinion that the true cause of their superiority must not be sought for in physical advantages； but that it is wholly attributable to their moral and intellectual qualities。
＇Footnote j： Materials are； generally speaking； less expensive in America than in Europe； but the price of labor is much higher。＇
The following comparison will illustrate my meaning。 During the campaigns of the Revolution the French introduced a new system of tactics into the art of war； which perplexed the oldest generals； and very nearly destroyed the most ancient monarchies in Europe。 They undertook （what had never before been attempted） to make shift without a number of things which had always been held to be indispensable in warfare； they required novel exertions on the part of their troops which no civilized nations had ever thought of； they achieved great actions in an incredibly short space of time； and they risked human life without hesitation to obtain the object in view。 The French had less money and fewer men than their enemies； their resources were infinitely inferior； nevertheless they were constantly victorious； until their adversaries chose to imitate their example。
The Americans have introduced a similar system into their commercial speculations； and they do for cheapness what the French did for c